Refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 29, 1946. A. J. PEDIGO REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 11, 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. J: Pedz' a.

Oct. 29, 1946. A J P i 2,1@,232

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 11, 1944 10 sheet-sheez 4 A. I Pediqo.

Oct. 29, 1946. PEDIGO- I 2,410,232

REFRIGERATINGfl APPAR ATUS Filed March 11, 1944 I 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 ll peziiyo. I

Oct. 29, 1946.

A. J. 'PEDIGO REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Maroh 11, 1944 lO'Sheets-Sheet 6 0a. 29, 1946. A, PEDIGO 2,410,232

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 11, 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet '7 Al Peai'go.

Oct. 29, 1946. A. J. PEDIGO REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 11, 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Oct. 29, 1946.

A. J. PED'IGO REFRIGERATING APPARATUS FiledMarch 11, 1944 10 Sheets-SheetS Pedlgo.

Get. 29, 1946.

A. J. PEDIGO 2,410,232

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed March 11, 1944 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 Patented Oct. 29, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Arthur J. Pedigo, Cookeville, Tenn. Application March 11, 1944, Serial No. 526,021

. 16 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the class of refrigeration and pertains particularly to an improved refrigerator structure or unit of the general character disclosed in my prior patents of April 15, 1941, Numbers 2,238,074 and 2,238,284.

A general object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerating apparatus or assembly'designed to use both ice and a mechanical refrigerating means for the maintenance within a refrigerator cabinet of a constant temperature level, which is constructed in a single compact unit designed to be inserted into a suitable cabinet for suspension therein and also designed in a novel manner whereby a controlled circulation of air around the refrigerating mediums may be readily had.

'Another object of the invention is to provide a refrigerating apparatus employing both ice and mechanical means for maintaining the desired temperature within a cabinet wherein a substantially closed ice chamber is provided and units of the mechanical refrigerating apparatus are inclosed within the ice chamber while other units of the mechanical refrigerating means are disposed within the refrigerator structure but outside the ice inclosing chamber and within an air circulating passage, the lower portion of said chamber and passage being in communication whereby the desired temperature and humidity conditions may be maintained within the food chamber of the refrigerator structure, over which the refrigerating apparatus is suspended.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a refrigerating apparatus of the character above set forth, a novel grid structure for supporting a melting body of ice, which includes a water circulation coil and transversely extending plates between which the melting body of ice extends downwardly from the ice chamber to form a'plurality of ice pillars between which air may circulate, with flange means forming a part of each of the said plates which function to limit the downward movement of the ice between the plates and coil sections, the said plates further being provided with openings or apertures to provide for the more ready passage of air between the ice pillars.

Another object of the invention is to provide.

a refrigerating apparatus wherein a novel means is employed for absorbing gases and odors from' the air within the refrigerator by the discharge of a Water vapor or mist into the air to circulate through the air chambers in which both the mechanical and natural refrigerating means are located.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved refrigerating apparatus employing both melting ice and mechanical air-chilling or refrigerating units for maintaining a desired temperature level and for bringing to a desired low temperature, water which is introduced into the refrigerated chambers and caused to circulate through such chambers in the form of a mist or vapor to effect the absorption of gases and odors, the temperature of the Water so discharged and circulated being reduced several degrees below the temperature of the air in the refrigerating chambers to insure the said absorption of the odors and gases from the air. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that various changes and modifications may be made in the structure so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the-drawings:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a refrigerator cabinet within the upper portion of which the refrigeration apparatus of the present invention is suspended, a portion of the lower part of such apparatus being shown in front elevation.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the refrigeration apparatus per se parts thereof being removed and parts being in section for a clearer understanding of the structure. 7

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the refrigeration apparatus per se.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of the refrigeration apparatus per se.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical section through the lower portion of the refrigeration apparatus and adjacent walls of the cabinet therefor, such section being substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view in perspective of that portion of the mechanical refrigerating means which is associated in the apparatus with the ice cabinet, showing the relative positions of the expansion units or absorption units and their connections with the expansion valves and the supply and return pipes for the refrigerating fluid. A

being taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 9.

Figure -9 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is a section on the line lli-lll of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a section on the line H-H of Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a top plan view showing there frigerating apparatus in position the top of the cabinet being removed.

Figure 13 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line l3l3"of Figure 12 with the top wall of thecabinet in place over the refrigerating. unit.

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line ltl4 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line l-l5 of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a view in transverse section of a preferred embodiment of water receiving trap into which drainage is discharged from the drip pans to be carried to the drain lead-01f.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the reference character C generally designates a cabinet in which food or other material is to be kept at a desired refrigerating temperature. This cabinet is here illustrated as being of the usual domestic type for use in homes in the storage of food or in small commercial establishments for the storage of food products, medicines or other substances which must be kept at a.proper low temperature but it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to use in a small cabinet of this character butmay be of larger size for use in large commercial establishments, the refrigeration apparatus inclosed within the cabinet being, of course, suitably enlarged to obtain the desired refrigeration effect in the larger structure.

The cabinet is provided with the usual door openingv It in the lower portion thereof, which is closed by the door H, and the upper door opening l2, through which the body of ice 13 maybe introduced into the refrigeration apparatus ice chamber, such upper opening being closed by the door It.

While, of course, the refrigeration apparatus may be installed in the cabinet in any desired manner, it is contemplatedthat when used in a cabinet of the type shown in Figure 1, the top wall 15 would be removable and the -top edges of the side walls lfiwould be provided with suitable recesses H to receive the transverse apparatus suspending or carrying girders !8 in the manner particularly illustrated in Figure 14.

The contacting edges of the vertical walls of the cabinet and the top wall are suitably beveled and fitted as shown particularly in Fig. 13 to provide a tight joint when the top wall is in position.

In accordance with the present invention the apparatus carrying or suspending girders l8, which are here shown as being two in number, are formed at their ends to provide the upwardly and longitudinally extending brackets 19'.

which fit into the recesses I"! in the side Walls? of within a cabinet,

the cabinet so that the body of the girder will be disposed at a suitable low elevation to allow for the projection downwardly into the top part of the cabinet of the central portion of the top wall is as shown in Figure 14.

Adjacent each end, each girder has depending therefrom a hangar bar or rod 23, from the upper end of which extends the threaded bolt 2i which passes through the girder and is connected with a cushion springv zllocated upon the top of the girder to provide a spring suspension such as is commonly employed in mounting refrigerating units within the cabinets.

The lower ends of the hangars 23 are secured, each in a corner of a rectangular frame generally designated F, Figure 2, and comprising the front and rear wall portions 23 and M respectively and-the side walls 25. As shown in Figure 5 this frame F has its side walls or plates close to or in contact with the side Walls H3 of the refrigerator cabinet whereas the front and rear portions23 and 2% of the frame are spaced from the front and rear walls, designated respectively 26 and 21, of the refrigerator cabinet, the frame being disposed at the level or in the plane of that portionof the front wall of the cabinet lying between the food chamber and ice chamber doors Hand M respectively, as is best seen in. Figure 13.

Each side of the refrigeration apparatus is defined bya vertical wall which is generally designated 28. These side walls areof a length to extend the full depth of the cabinet between the front and rear walls thereof and each side wall 28 comprises a lower wall portion 29 through which extends the front and rear portions 23 and 2d of the suspension frame F as shown in Figure .2.

Above these portions 23 and 2 60f the suspension frame, the lower side wall portions 29 are directed obliquely outwardly and upwardly as indicated at 3% and each is hori ontally outwardly off-set to form a shoulder 3i upon which rests the upper portion 32 of the side wall, which upper portion is preferably of a suitable transparent non-breakable material, such, for example, as plastic, though any suitable insulation material may also be made use of.

The upper wall portions-32 extend at their forward and rear edges slightly beyond the lower wall portions and the inner faces of the front and rear walls of the cabinet are provided with the vertical channeled packing strips 33, as shown in Figure 12, in which the projecting front and rear edges of the upper wall portions 32 are slidably engaged.

The lower wall p'ortionsZd of the apparatus are preferably insulated as shown in Figure 2 and each of these wall portions is provided with a door opening Ed in which is suspended for oscillation on a vertical axis, the glass doors 35.

A stop flange 36 is formed along the inner side of each door opening 34 at the top thereof to limit the inward swinging of the top edge of the door 35 as best seen in Figure 14. These doors 35 are controlled to. be oscillated simultaneously and to have the top edges swung outwardly as indicated in broken lines in Figure 14, by the control mechanism hereinafter described.

The side walls 28 areconnected by front and rear walls 31 and 38 respectively, which are insulated as shown in Figures 2 and 13 and which portions 23 and 26 as best seen in Figure 13, providing the spaces 39 in which certain heat absorption units, hereinafter described, are located.

The front wall 31 extends down below the top edge of the food chamber dooropening -Ill asl so'that by swinging the window outwardly and.

upwardly and swinging the flap portion 4| inwardly and downwardly access may be readily had to the lower part of the refrigerationapparatus below the ice chamber and the ice supporting d- The back wall 38 lies in close proximity to the back wall 27 of the cabinet and extends downwardly to the outer or lower section of the hereinafter described drip pan. 5 g p lSecured to the top of the sill of the ice chamber door opening I2 is a guard or apron plate 42' which extends inwardly and forms a part of an angle'member which is secured to the front wall31 of the apparatus when the latter is placed in position. vOverlying the top edge of the front wall 3! is a flange 42 w'hich is integral with an inner plate 37 which forms a part of the front wall structure. The angle of which theplate 42 forms a part extends across the front of the wall 31 and assists in holding the apparatus in position and also covers or closes the upper part of the space between the wall 31 and the front wall 26 of the cabinet to prevent the passage of air upwardly between these two walls. This space between the walls 26 and 31 may be filled, after the apparatus is installed in the cabinet, with a suitable insulation material, not shown;

The side walls 28 are coupled together adjacent the bottom edges thereof, by the transverse tie rods 43, Figures 2, 3, 13 and 14., Above these tie rods the lower portions 29 of the side walls 28 have secured to the inner sides or faces thereof the horizontal guide channels 44 between which is slidably extended from the front of the apparatus the condensation pan 45 which forms a part of .the general or entire drip pan unit which is generally designated 46.

While the flap 4! has been described as forming a part of the front wall 31 it is carried by the drip pan unit, being pivotally attached, as shown most clearly in Figures 2 and 13, to the upturned flange formed across the front part of the pan 45, such flange being designated 41.

The central part of the condensation pan 45 is provided with the flanged opening 48 which extends lengthwise o-fth pan from the front to the 'rear end and provides a means for the pas-' sage downwardly into the underlying food chamber of the cabinet, of cold clean air from the refrigerated spaces of the apparatus.

Carried by and maintained in spaced'relation abovethe condensate pan 45 is the drip pan 49 which forms a part of the drip pan unit 46 and this'drip pan 49 is also provided with a flanged opening 50 which coincides with the opening 48.

as shown in Figures 3 and 13. The drip pan 49 is sloped or inclined fromthe two sides toward the center so that it will drain to the center and the-drainage may flow into the underlying condensate pan 45 either through suitable. openings is the pivoted inwardly: swingingby the down-turned spout 5|, into vaisuitable re ceiver or trap 5la and then into the drain pipe 5| which passes to the outside of the cabinet as is best shown in Figure 1.

The ventilation or air-passingopenings 48 and 55 of the drip pan unit are enclosed by the upstanding screen wall structure 52 which is covered by the vertically spaced hoods 53 which entirely overlie or cover the openings 48-50. These hoods and the screen wall prevent ice chips from falling through the" openings into the underlying food chamber and, of course, the hood will also prevent drippings from passing downwardly into the food chamber.

In the area defined by the upper portions of. the side wall portions 29 and the front and rear: sides or walls 23 and 24 of the frame F, is located the. ice grid'which is generally designated 54. "This.

grid includes outer bordering plates 55 which" are vertically disposed and which extend from front to rear between the walls 23-24 and, betweenthese outer or bordering plates 55 are the intermediate vertical plates 56 which are spaced apart and are spaced from the bordering plate 55 as is clearly shown in Figures 2 and 14. The bordering plates 55 extend above the intermediate plates 56 but are not extended above the top edges of the lower wall oblique portions 30. Each of these bordering plates has a series of slots cut downwardly in the top edge thereof as indicated at 51 and each is covered by the reinforcing saddle 58 which closes the upper end of the recesses 51 as best seen in Figure 2.

,The ends and bottom edges of the bordering plates 55 are defined by the out-turned flanges 59, the function of which will be hereinafter set forth.

The intermediate plates 56 also have bordering I side and bottom flanges 60.

The top edges of the intermediate-plates have recesses 6| formed therein, corresponding with and lying transversely of the apparatus with the recesses 51. These transversely aligned recesses of the plates 55-56 receive the transversely extending flattened water coils or coil units or pipes which are assembled in two horizontally disposed groups, the forward group of the pipes being designated 62 and the rear group being designated 62'. As stated these pipes of the coils 52 and 52 are flattened so that the narrow edges are upward and the coils extend outwardly through the lower portions 29 of the side walls 28 as best seen in Figure 2.

The top edges of the upper portions 32 of the side walls 28 are spaced from the cabinet top wall 15 as best seen in Figures 13 and 14, thereby providing the vertical side air passageways 53-and the .top airspace or passage 64 which extends across the entire underside of the top wall l5 In each of the side passages 63- there is disposed the vertical water coil 65 while in the top transverse space or passage 64 is dis-;

of. the cabinet.

its other end with thetop. of the adjacent side coili65 and the lower end of eachside coil 65 is .coupled; with an end of a horizontal pipe rou 92 or 62'. In the construction here-illustrated 69 to the water outlet or lead-off pipe 19. 'The purpose of these check valves E9i will be hereinafter described.

It will be, seen,from.. the foregoing that; the water flows in through thegpipe B8 and is divided in the tophorizontal coil to pass downwardly through the side coils 551 and through the horizontal pipe groups 62-52 passing outthrough the check valves 69. to thewater lead-off pipe 10. Thus-the water coming in from the-supply line will have its temperature lowered by the ice surrounding the flattened coils of thev pipe groups 62-452 for the purpose hereinafter :stated.

For maintaining the vertical coils 65 rigidly in position the hook brackets ll are secured to the hanger bars 29 as best shown in Figure 14.1,

Mounted upon the top. of the frontdsection or wall'23 of the apparatus supporting frame F and extending between the upper" side wall, portions 32 is an ice chamber front'wall frame 12 in which is fitted the door 13, here illustrated as being of transparent construction, with the exception of the enclosing sash therefor. This door is hingedly attached as indicated at M to the top edge of'the suspension frame front wall 23,1which' top edge forms the sill of the opening defined'by the frame 12.

The door frame l2.is'bordered upon the inner side at the side and top edges of the opening by the stops '55 which merge into the inwardly extending vertical side and horizontal top flanges 16 and H respectively. See Figures 2 and 15.

In the vertical plane of the rear wall portion 24 of the suspension frame F there is disposed the ice chamber back wall it which is here illustrated as being of transparent material. This wall rests upon the top of the frame portion 2 and is secured in position by the vertical angle bars 19, one side of each of which positions against the innerside of the adjacentiwalkportion 32while the other side of each angle bar positions against the back or rear side of'thewall 18 as shown in Figure 15.

Overlying the area defined by the upper-por tions 32 of the side walls of the apparatus; the

back wall 18 and the frame and door structures l 12-'I3 forming the front wall of the ice. cham.v

ber, is the ice chamber top wall 89 which rests upon the top edges of the wall portions 32, the walllB and the door frame 12 as best seen' in Figure 2 and is secured in position by the clamp brackets 9| which are attached to the angle bars 19, and the bolts 82, Figure 2, which pass downwardly through the top wall and may be attached to the inwardly extendinghorizontal door flange '11. with the side walls the door opening defined by the frame 'IZiand resting upon the icegrid 54, defined moreparticularly by the plates 55-56 and the transverse water pipes 62-4522" As will be readily apparent the ice chamber top wall 80 lies beneath the horizontal water coil 66.

In the construction thus far described it will be' readily seen that in addition to the vertical This top wall 80; forms 32 a chamber 83 withinwhich the ice block I3 is disposed, being inserted throughside fines. or: passages which are, formed Jbe-r tween ;the outer side walls is of the cabinet-and,-

the side walls 28 which communicate with the horizontal circulation space64, thereare provided'the vertical front andrear air spaces or flues which are designated 84 and 85 respec: tively, which also communicate with the top horizontal air space. 64 as will be readily seen upon.

referenceto Figure 13.

Extending through the depth of the ice chamher in spaced relation with the upper wall por-" tions 32 of the side walls 28 are the vertical partitions 86 which are supported upon the top edges of the front and rear frame wall portions 23 and 24 and in addition are maintained in proper vertical position by the vertical angle bars 81 at the rear of the ice chamber and by the rearwardly extending flanges 16 which form an integral part of the frame 15, as shown in Figure 15. These partition walls 86 do not extendthe full height of the ice chamber but are spaced from the top wall 89 thereof as shown in Figure 14' and'they provide with-the upperportions 3.2 of the side walls 28 the relatively narrow or shallow vertical passage 88 which houses a freezing or heat absorption coil 89.

In addition to the coils 62, 62', 65 and 66, there; are employed in association with a suitable compressor apparatus, not shown, such as is commonly used in mechanical refrigerators, the four freezing coil units illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 7, two of which, the units 89, have been previously referred to as being disposed in the vertical passages 88 within the ice chamber 82.

The other two units of the mechanical system are designated 99 and 9|, the unit 90 being disposed atthe front of the apparatus in the lower part of the front vertical air space or passage, between the front wall 3?, and the forward side or wall 230i the frame, while the other unit of the mechanical refrigerating mechanism is designated 9| and is located at the rear of the apparatus in the lower part of the air passageway 85, between the wall 38 and the rear side ,or portion 24 of the apparatus supporting frame. These frontand rear coils 99-9| are in the horizontal plane of. that portion of the front wall 26 of'thel cabinet. lying between the doors II and I4 andthus the front coililfi is .not exposed to View when the top door I4 is open or through the door opening 10 or the transparent door lfl lying insidethis opening.

Thelmechanical refrigeration coils are connected with the refrigerant supply line 92 in two groups, one group constituting a coil 89 and the coil 90, which are supplied from the branch pipe 93 through the expansion valve 94, which is of standard construction, while the other group includes, of course, the othercoil 89 and the rear coil 9! which are supplied through the branch pipe 95 and the expansion valve 96. The several coils are connected by "suitable return pipes 91 with the mainreturn line 98*.

For the production of the desired mist'or'vapor in therefrigerating chambers and the air passageways of the mechanism there are provided a pair of mist producing units 99 which are of standard design or construction such as are commonly employed in vegetable markets to maintain a cloud of vapor or'mist-over-and'around green centralportion of :the drippan unit. between such,

- screen walled portion and the adjacent side doors couplings 69 and the horizontal coils 62-452;v

which form a part of the ice grid, as shown in Figures 2 and .4. The connecting pipes between the mist producing units and their respective water supply connections are designated I90 and each has therein a valve I for use in the event it becomes necessary to remove a unit .99 for cleaning.

As shown in the last two figures referred to the mist producin units 99 are each adjacent to a door 35, which doors when opened have their top edges moved outwardly as shown in Figure 14 in the vertical passages 63 in which the vertical ice cooled water coils 65 are located. These doors are opened so as to permit air to pass directly to the columns of ice when the sprays are shut off and the mechanical unit is not operating so that it is necessary for the ice to supply all of the refrigeration for the structure.

' The mist producing units include the deflector platesY'IOI which are normally adjusted to deflect the mist outwardly toward the doors. This causes a film of moisture to be formed on the doors; which film functions like the film of water upon the body of ice in the ice chamber, to absorb gases and odors.

' The moisture collected upon the doors will drain oiT from the lower edges thereof into the drip pan as will be readily apparent upon referenceto Figure 14.

The oscillation of the doors 35 to open or closed position may be accomplished inany suitable manner but it is preferred that a mechanism be employed by which the doors can be shifted simultaneously by the actuation of a single con- "trol such, for example, as the control rod I02 the other below the pivot axis for the adjacent as shown particularly in Figures '1, 5, 8 and 9. Such rod is supported to extend through a. side wallof the cabinet as illustrated in Figures 1 and 9 so that it maybe conveniently operated. The rod extends transversely across the major portion of the interior of the cabinet and of the lower part of the refrigeration apparatus, transversely of the doors 35 and across and in close proximity to an end of each as shown particularly in Figures 8, 10 and 11. Each of the doors is here shown as being provided upon the edge adjacent to the rod I02, with a vertically slotted bracket I 03, the brackets being upon corresponding sides of the doors. Adjacent to each bracket. I03 the rod I02 carries a collar I04, which in turn carries the laterally projecting finger I which slidably engages in the adjacent slotted bracket I03. I

As shown in Figure 9 onebracket I 03 is located substantially upon the horizontal plane of the rod I02 while the other bracket is located a substantial distance below. the rod and the collar I04 adjacent to the lastmentioned bracket has a drop arm I06 uponrwhich the finger I05 is mounted. From this arrangement it will be readily apparent that when the rod I02 is pulled outwardly corresponding pull will be applied'to the brackets I 03 which are located one above and door so that the doors will be oppositely oscillated or, in other words,- the top portion of each door will be swung outwardly as shown in Figure 14.

While a specific mechanism for actuating the doors 35 has been illustrated and described it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this particular control means but that any suitable meansmay be made use of for obtaining the desired action.

As illustrated in Figure 1 there may be connected with the return flow pipe 19, a faucet I01, located upon the outer side of the cabinet so that chilled-water may be drawn oil from the water'coils for drinking and other purposes. A glass tray is mounted beneath the faucet as indicated at I08 and this is coupled by the pipe I09 withthe drain pipe 5|.

In order that the chilled water flowing to the faucet I01, may be tempered, if desired, there is provided a shunt or by-pass pipe I01 which leads from the lower end of the adjacent side coil 65 to the pipe 10 between the check valves 69' and: the faucet as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 4. This pipe I01 has the valve I01" therein so that the flow of water from the coil 65 into the line leading to the faucet may be increased or completely shut 011 as desired. Since the water flowing in through the connection or lead-in pipe 68, to the side coils 65, would come from an outside source such as a city water supply, the

temperature of this infiowing water would be considerably higher than the'temperature after it has passed through the horizontal pipes 62-62 which are adjacent to or in direct contact with the ice and are chilled by the ice. Since the water passing through the coils 6262' would be close to; the freezing point it will be appreciated that it might beconsidered by some as too cold .to drink therefore the temperature could be tained by theuse of the water vapor or mist re- 1 sults from the lowering of the temperature of the water leading to the sprays, as-near as possibleto the temperature of .the melting ice. Since the temperature of the air being circulated in the refrigerator is higher than the temperature of the water. issuing from the spray,- the water becomes an absorbent to function in the manner stated. The temperature difierence between the sprayed water and the air within the refrigerator may be from 4 to 8 as it is desirable that there be maintained in the refrigerator a temperature of around 42 for the most satisfactory results. v

. .The purpose of the valves 69' is to prevent the water passing from either the coil 62 or the coil 62' back up through the pipe line I for the adjacent spray unit in the event that the adjacentcoil becomes clogged. In other words, the check valves 69'- prevent the reverse flow of water through them to the adjacent spray units.

For the purpose of bracing and strengthening the intermediate and border plates of the ice supporting grid there are provided the fins II 0 which :are connectedv in the openings III, at the bottom edges thereof, formed in the partition and border they may also serve the additional: function of supporting the ice -to-limi't the downward moveto insulate the pipes leading fits derived zgaiopse As will be readily apparent when food stuffs or other warm article are placed in the lower part of the cabinet beneath the refrigeration apparatus, air currents will be set up which will move upwardly through the outside passages 63' and the front and rear passages 84 and 85 while op- "positely moving cold air will'flow downwardly from the mechanically refrigerated coil beneath the ice block supported in the ice chamber upon the grid and then pass downwardly through the central opening of thedrip pan to refrigerate thematerial lying beneath the apparatus. Such air in passing between theice block supporting plate and in flowing over the adjacent surfaces of the ice body will become humidified and will also give up to the melting ice any odors which may'have arisen from the food stuffs.

The correct operation of the present refrigerating apparatus is dependent, of course,- upon both the mechanical unit and the ice block inthe ice chamber. If the mechanical unit should, for any reason, fail to function then it would no longer be necessary to operate'the sprays because the ice would begin to melt and the absorbing effect would be carried on by the'melting ice. For this reason the valves we are provided in the pipe lines we leading to the sprays, as well as for the purpose of shutting off the flow of water to either spray if it should become necessary to remove the spray unit for cleaning, as previously stated.

While no illustration has been made of insulation around any of the pipes, it iscontemplated from the coil sections .or units 62*62 to the spray units. Since the use of insulation may be employed without invention, wherever desired. it is not thought necessary to show such insulation around the pipes Hill although it is understood that suchpipes may be so covered if'desired.

In addition to the foregoing actions and benefrom' the use of the ice block in the chamber with the mechanically refrigerated unit the additional advantage is had, as set forth in my prior patent, of maintaining'an even temperature at alltimes'in the cabinet and of causing the ice block to last longer than it would normally do due to the presence adjacent thereto of the mechanical refrigerating units,

I claim:

1. A refrigeration apparatus comprising, in combination with a casing, 'a horizontally disposed frame, hangers for" suspending said frame in the casing, vertical spaced parallel walls mounted upon said frame and formed to connect between front and rear walls of the casing, the casing having a door controlled opening lea'd ing through the front wall intothe space between the vertical walls, said vertical walls being spaced from the adjacent side walls of the casing to form vertical side air flues'and being spaced from the top' wall of the casing to form a horizontal air space, transverse walls connecting between said side walls and spaced from the front and rear walls of th casing to form air fines, a top wall connecting the top edges of vertical front and rear said spaced vertical walls and said transverse walls and forming therewith an ice chamber, a door controlled opening for "through" the said transverse wall adjacent 'to the ""first"mentioned opening; meansforming an ice supporting grid in the lower part of the ice chamthe ice chamber spaced' from'said ice supporting grid, and units :supported between'the drip pan unit and the ice melting ice body,

her, said grid including a transversewatericonducting pipe, water coils disposed in the first mentioned air flues and in the said horizontal air space and connected in series with the water pipes forming a art of said grid, means for conmeeting a source of water supply to said pipes and coils for circulation therethrough, a mechanical heat absorption unit in said front and rear and a mechanical heat absorption unit within the ice chamber.

2. A refrigeration apparatus as set forthlin claim 1, with means located beneath the said ice supporting grid for creating a water mist.

'3. A'refrigeration apparatus as set forth in claim 1, witha drip pan unit underlying and supporting grid for creating a water mist.

4:. A refrigeration apparatus comprising in combination with a cabinet having vertical side walls, a horizontally disposed frame supported in the cabinet, a pairof spaced vertical side Walls supported by. said frame in relation with the stated spaced cabinet side walls and extending from the front to the rear cabinet walls, said spaced Walls terminating short of the cabinet top wall, means connected with said'spaced walls forming an ice chamber which is open upon the bottom side only, means in the open bottom side of the ice chamber for supporting a body of ice, said ice body supporting means including means for limiting the downward movement of an ice body as the same melts and further including water coil pipes between which portions of the melting ice extend downwardly, said ice chamber being spaced at its front and'rearsides from the front and rear walls of the cabinet, mechanical heat absorption units disposed in the'space' between the fro-ntand rear walls of the cabinet and the front and rear walls of the ice chamber, and mechanical heat absorption units disposed within the ice chamber.

5. A refrigeration apparatus as set forth in claim l, with a water mist forming means disposed beneath the ice supporting means adjacent each of the said spaced vertical side walls, within the area defined by said'walls together with the front and rear walls of the ice chamber and above the lowermost edges of the walls defining such area, a door in the lower part of each of the said vertical walls beneath the level of the ice supporting means, and means for opening. said doors for the passage of air therethrough,

6. A refrigeration apparatus comprising, the combination with a cabinet, of a horizontally disposed rectangular frame supported in the cabinet, means supported upon said frame forming with the side, front and rear Walls'of thecabinet, vertical side air fines and front and rear air flues communicating with a top horizontal air space, means coacting' with the stated flue-"forming means to provide an ice chamber open' only at its bottom, an ice supporting means in the lower open side of the ice chamber comprising axs'eries of vertically disposed spaced plate and'a plurality of water pipesperpendicular to the plates and forming a water coil, means for supplying water to the coils for circulation'therethrough, means connected withthe lower edges of the plates for limiting the downward movement of a a mechanical refrigerating means in each of the second mentioned vertical fines, and a mechanical refrigerating-means within the ice chamber.

"A refrigeration structure-a seti'for'th in 13 claim 6, in which the mechanical refrigerating means within the ice'chamber comprises two vertically arranged coil units disposed at opposite sides of the chamber, and means adjacent each of the said two opposite sides of the ice chamber and spaced therefrom forming a space opening at its top and bottom into the ice chamber within which a mechanical refrigerating unit is disposed.

8. A refrigeration apparatus comprising in combination with a cabinet having side, front and rear walls, a pair of spaced vertical walls supported within the cabinet between the front and rear walls thereof and spaced from the side walls to provide vertical air fiues, said spaced walls being spaced at their top edges from the top of the cabinet, transverse front and rear walls connecting the lower halves of the spaced walls, transverse walls positioned inwardly from the front and rear cabinet walls and connecting the said vertical walls and extending downwardly from the top edges of the vertical walls to a plane below the top edges of the first mentioned transverse walls, the first mentioned transverse walls being spaced from the inwardly spaced transverse walls to provide vertical air fiues, a top wall connected with the top edges of the vertical walls and the top edges of the inwardly spaced transverse walls and forming with the vertical walls and the inwardly spaced walls an ice chamber, a door controlled opening in that inwardly spaced transverse wall adjacent the cabinet front wall, facilitating the introduction of ice into the ice chamber, an ice supporting grid in the bottom part of the ice chamber and including vertical spaced plates and spaced parallel members extending transversely of the plates, said vertically spaced plates having flanges at their lower edges for limiting the downward movement of melting ice between the plates and the transverse members, a drip pan joined to the bottom edges of the vertical walls and of the first mentioned transverse walls and covering the area defined by such walls, the drip pan being in vertically spaced relation with the flanged lower edges of said plates, said drip pan having a central air opening therethrough, a mechanical refrigerating unit within the vertical fiuesformed between the first mentioned transverse walls and the inwardly spaced transverse walls, and a mechanical refrigerating unit disposed within the ice chamber in a plane above the ice supporting means.

9. A refrigeration apparatus as set forth in claim 8, with a water mist forming means disposed in the space between the ice supporting means and the drip pan and within the area defined by the vertical walls and the inwardly spaced transverse walls.

10. A refrigeration apparatus as set forth in claim 8, with a water mist forming means disposed within the space between the ice supporting means and the drip pan and within the area defined by the vertical walls and the inwardly spaced transverse walls, and a swinging door in the lower part of each vertical wall between the levels of the ice supporting means and the drip pan, and means for oscillating said doors from outside the cabinet for opening and closing the doors.

11. A refrigeration apparatus as set forth in claim 4, with transverse front and rear walls connected between the said spaced vertical walls through substantially the lower halves of the said 14 spaced walls and in spaced relation with the front and rear walls of the ice chamber, a drip pan unit connecting and closing the area defined by the bottom edges of the spaced vertical walls and the transverse walls, said drip pan unit having a central opening, a drip guard overlying said central opening and spaced from the drip pan unit, and water mist forming means disposed beneath the ice supporting means at each side'of said drip pan opening and constructed and arranged to discharge a water mist laterally upwardly away from said opening.

12. In a refrigeration apparatus, the combination with a cabinet having vertical side walls and a removable top wall, of a pair of girder members removably supported at their ends upon the top edges of two opposite side walls of the cabinet to extend transversely thereof beneath the top wall, said top wall maintaining said girder members in position, hanger members connected with the girder members and extending downwardly insaid cabinet, a frame supported by the hanger members horizontally in the cabinet, and an ice supporting refrigeration chamber connected with said frame and suspended by the girder members and hanger members within the cabinet.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 12, in which said ice carrying chamber is of a width with respect to said cabinet to have two opposite walls in spaced relation with adjacent walls of the cabinet to form vertical air flues, bracket members carried by adjacent pairs of the hanger members, and fluid circulation coils connected with said bracket members for support by the hanger members within said flues.

14. A refrigeration apparatus as set forth in claim 13, in which the said means forming the stops comprises lateral flanges formed integral with the lower edges of the plates, and members extending across between and joinin the lower portions of adjacent plates.

15. A refrigeration apparatus of the character stated, comprising a cabinet having a wall provided with a door controlled opening, a unit supported within the cabinet and formed to provide an ice chamber, the ice chamber having a wall provided with a door controlled opening in alignment with the first opening, said chamber having a Width and depth materially less than the inside width and depth of the cabinet whereby vertical air flues are provided, a drip pan unit forming a wall across the lower part of the unit of which the ice chamber forms a part, an ice supporting grid in the lower part of the ice chamher and spaced from said drip pan unit, water mist forming means disposed between the drip pan unit and the ice supporting grid, and oscillatable doors in opposite walls of the units of which the ice chamber forms a part, between the drip pan unit and the ice supportin grid.

16. A refrigeration apparatus of the character stated in claim 15, in which said oscillatable doors are adapted to swing the bottom edges thereof inwardly to a position above the drip pan unit, on horizontal axes disposed substantially midway between the top and bottom edges of such doors whereby drainage of moisture from the inner sides of the doors will be upon the drip pan unit when such oscillatable doors are in open position.

ARTHUR J. PEDIGO. 

